In cognitive psychology, when a person uses the availability heuristic, they are most likely to:

• A. Rely on statistical probabilities rather than personal experiences
• B. Systematically analyze all possible outcomes before making a decision
• C. Judge the likelihood of an event based on how easily examples come to mind
• D. Ignore recent information in favor of older, more established facts

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of the availability heuristic: it is a mental shortcut where people estimate the likelihood of an event based on how easily examples or instances come to mind.
2. Recognize that this heuristic relies on personal experiences or memorable examples rather than on objective statistical data or systematic analysis.
3. Compare the options given: the availability heuristic does not involve relying on statistical probabilities or systematically analyzing all outcomes.
4. Note that it also does not involve ignoring recent information; instead, it often emphasizes recent or vivid memories because they are more accessible.
5. Conclude that the best description of the availability heuristic is that a person judges the likelihood of an event based on how easily examples come to mind.